Drive system configuration for the concave and radially cut hemisphere for cutting and pressing for citrus juice extraction machine

ABSTRACT

A fruit juice extraction apparatus for processing citrus fruit in general, without manual contact, comprising a tubular chassis having mounted thereon an extraction box affixed to a gearmotor for actuating an crank and rod assembly which dislocates one concave hemisphere against another concave hemisphere, thereby pressing fruit released by a trigger positioned on an opening in a tray in which one of the concave hemispheres has a central pin and on the other a perforating tube for the extraction of the juice, the solid residues of the fruit being released into a receptacle and the liquid passing through a filter, then falling into a reservoir which has outlet ports therein.

Priority Claimed Under 35 U.S. Code § 119 Brazilian Application No.: MU-7501779-2 Filed: Aug. 1, 1995.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The patent invention referred to here as, "DRIVE SYSTEM CONFIGURATION FOR THE CONCAVE AND RADIALLY CUT HEMISPHERE FOR CUTTING AND PRESSING FOR CITRUS JUICE EXTRACTION MACHINE," as nomenclature infers, implies in a motor used in the equipment described in process number 9502244-9 of Jun. 19, 1995, of the same claimant, (and which is repeated herein below), which is basically composed of a set of simplified cranks which axially drive a concave and radially cut hemisphere used in the cutting and pressing of fruit. It is worth noting that the referred to citrus juice extraction machine can process oranges, lemons, tangerines, etc.

The invention referred to herein as "CONFIGURATION OF A FRUIT JUICE EXTRACTION MACHINE" or fruit juice extraction apparatus is, as is alluded to in the name itself, a machine developed for the production of citrus fruit juices, such as: lemon, orange, tangerine, ponkan, etc., providing greater practical and sanitary conditions, with the advantage of totally eliminating manual contact during the extraction of the juice from the fruit.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The "CONFIGURATION OF A FRUIT JUICE EXTRACTION MACHINE" of the present invention consists of an automatic system where synchronized and concentric elements press the orange (this fruit will be used only as an example), without crushing the peel, by this avoiding the dispersion of acids (from the peel), favoring the retention of totally natural juice.

Particularly in the case of commercial establishments, we know that in these localities orange juice is extracted by use of electrical rotary squeezers that are noisy and non-sanitary; and such squeezers are of low production and generate excessive physical fatigue on the part of the operator, since he has to cut hundreds of oranges in half every day, processing each and every orange half in the squeezer. It is not difficult to notice that this process is non-sanitary, since manual contact is indispensable.

These factors make the instantaneous production of natural juice not viable, since the slow rates of production make for an expensive final product, plus the fact that consumers will tend to opt for processed drinks given the lack of sanitary conditions in the extraction of natural juices. It is also important to observe the existence of manual squeezers, that incorporate all of the previously mentioned negative features, and are totally not viable for production of juice on a commercial scale.

Equipment that crush all of the fruit in the extraction of juice have an elementary disadvantage that is the dispersion of the acids in the peel, leaving the juice with a bitter taste, not fit for consumption.

It is worth noting that to resolve these problems, several types of machinery and equipment for the extraction of juice have appeared, incorporating important shortcomings that are important to be analyzed, such as:

currently it is known of a machine for processing citrus fruit, especially oranges, where there is a system which after the insertion of the fruit, it is cut in half, and the halves are separated in two rotating cylinders in which two geared reamers, also rotating and hemispherical in shape, crush the fruit halves extracting the juice.

Nevertheless, this system, because of its characteristics, exposes the extracted juice to the peel, in such a manner that the juice bathes, partially or totally, the peel, provoking an emulsification of the oil contained in the peel, incorporating it in the juice, making it acidic and bitter.

It is worth noting that in laboratory tests, it is observed that the level of peel oil in the juice, with this system, varies from 50 to 500% above the norm tolerable for consumption.

There are also other known equipment that function in distinctly different manners than the one previously cited, encompassing voluminous and heavy mechanical systems that provoke the crushing of the whole fruit.

To have a more complete idea of these machines, they are so heavy that they require the use of hoists or cranes for maneuvering.

The existing mechanical systems consist of actuated arms that compress the fruit between two concentric peelers. Said concentric peelers are built with multiple radial openings that interlink with each other (one cupping the other). Nevertheless, the design of the openings makes it such that the fruit becomes crushed and not cut, resulting in the liberation of peel oil into the juice.

As a result of the large space occupied by the machines, the space for fruit storage becomes very limited, forcing the operator to feed the machine constantly.

Systems taught in FMC Corporation's U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,778, U.S. Pat. No. 5,170,700, U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,729 and, U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,870, produce oil in the juice and the vertical cores have a tendency to jam with the fruit.

In analyzing these inconveniences, the applicant, who is active in this segment of the market, has developed the apparatus herein claimed, as a definitive solution to these inconveniences.

The "CONFIGURATION OF A FRUIT JUICE EXTRACTION MACHINE" of the present invention is notably more compact and as a consequence lighter. This is due to the utilization of simplified mechanisms with greater functional efficacy.

These mechanisms make possible the easy cleaning of the equipment and less maintenance, noting also that the noise level is slightly lower.

In its fundamental scope, the "CONFIGURATION OF A FRUIT JUICE EXTRACTION MACHINE" fact presented herein functions in the following manner:

on the upper part of a tray which holds several fruit which, by force of gravity, fall one by one between two concave and radially cut hemispheres, one of those moves axially being actuated by a rod connected to a type of crankshaft arm.

The system does not crush the peel and does shear it in multiple slivers, at the same time it compresses the fruit, a factor that impedes the release of the oil in the peel. It is worth noting that this peel, after the extraction of the juice, falls totally dry into an appropriate reservoir.

Unequivocally, it can be concluded that the cost/benefit relationship of the present invention is greater than that of those known to date, because of its compact nature and high quality juice produced, similar to a home made juice.

Because of these advantages and others that will easily be noticed by the user, as well as its uniqueness in relation to the state of the technology, the applicant, therefore, submits this "CONFIGURATION OF A FRUIT JUICE EXTRACTION MACHINE" and its "CONCAVE AND RADIALLY CUT HEMISPHERES" have the requisites for achieving patent approval.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Today, citrus juice extraction machines utilize complex drive systems, generally composed by gear systems, hydraulic and pneumatic arms, among others. These systems generate great waste and maintenance, as well as high manufacturing costs; other relevant inconveniences include: greater weight, larger space requirements and greater system consumption of electrical energy, etc.

With the objective of offering an equipment of greater simplicity and functionality, the claimant developed the motorized assembly in question, which encompasses the highest technical standards in this segment of the market.

The apparatus of the present invention or machine for processing citrus fruit by extracting the juice in general, without manual contact, comprises a tubular chassis fixed to an extraction box being on it affixed a gearmotor actuating an crank and rod assembly which dislocates one concave hemisphere against another concave hemisphere pressing the fruit released by a trigger situated on an opening in a tray in which one of the concave hemispheres has a central pin and on the other a perforating tube for the extraction of the juice, the solid residues being released into a receptacle and the liquid being passed through a filter and then falling into a reservoir which has faucets or outlets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

With the object of better elucidating the apparatus herein and for a further or better comprehension of the model for understanding the nature and objects of the present invention, reference should be had to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which like parts are given like reference numerals and, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partially in cross-section, of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is front elevational view, partially in cross-section, of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view, partially in cross-section, of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates the side view of the assembly; and,

FIG. 5 illustrates the top view of the same.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

CONFIGURATION OF A FRUIT JUICE EXTRACTION MACHINE or the fruit juice extracting apparatus of the present invention, in accordance with FIGS. 1-3, comprises a tubular chassis 1, affixed to an extraction box 1' for housing juice, mounted vertically on this box 1' is a gearmotor 2 which drives a crank and rod 3 which provokes the axial movement of one of the concave and radially cut hemisphere 4 against the other concave and radially cut hemisphere 5, both radially interfacing.

On the upper part of the apparatus is provided a tray 6 with an opening 7 through which the fruit is driven to fall in between the concave hemispheres 4, 5, all shielded by a protective cover 8 over the entire assembly.

The concave hemisphere 4 has a concentric central pin 9 and the concave hemisphere 5 has a perforating tube 10 through which the juice is extracted. The fruit peel and core fall into receptacle 11.

The concave hemisphere 4 drives a trigger 12 during its motion feeding one fruit at a time; the juice coming from the tube 10 passes through a filter 13 and is retained in a reservoir 14 which is equipped with faucets or outlet ports 15 for dispensing.

Incidental residues, such as core and seeds do not pass through the filter 13 and are ejected through the tube 10 toward the receptacle 11.

"DRIVE SYSTEM CONFIGURATION FOR THE CONCAVE AND RADIALLY CUT HEMISPHERE 4 FOR CUTTING AND PRESSING FOR CITRUS JUICE EXTRACTION MACHINE", best seen in FIGS. 3-5, is made up of a crank 31 with and "L" cross section, keyed to gearmotor 2 drive axle, incorporating a self-aligning bearing 33, on which is housed a drive pin 34 which is mounted on the planar driven rod 3, joined by a pivot 36 to "U" support 37, integral to the rectangular base 38, where the concave and radially cut hemisphere 4 is mounted for the cutting and pressing of fruit. Said base 38 is equipped with two bearing supports 40 which slide on parallel bars 42, 44, best seen in FIG. 3. 

What is claimed as invention is:
 1. A fruit juice extraction apparatus comprising:a chassis having mounted thereon juice extraction means; said juice extraction means having means for storing said fruit, said storing means having an aperture therein for allowing articles of said fruit to be deposited between two concave hemispheres; drive means for actuating means for forcing the first of said concave hemispheres against the second of said concave hemispheres, thereby pressing an article of said fruit deposited between said hemispheres, said means for forcing comprising, a driven rod connected to a base member on which said first concave hemisphere is mounted; said first concave hemisphere having a central pin and said second concave hemisphere a perforating tube for the extraction of juice from said article of fruit, whereby the solid residue is deposited in a receptacle and the liquid is passed through a filter and then falls into a reservoir which has outlet ports therein.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said driven base member slidably moves said first concave hemisphere against and away from said second concave hemisphere.
 3. A fruit juice extraction apparatus comprising:a tubular chassis having mounted thereon juice extraction means; said juice extraction means having a container for storing said fruit, said container having an aperture therein for allowing articles of said fruit to be deposited between two concave hemispheres; a motor for actuating means for forcing the first of said concave hemispheres against the second of said concave hemispheres, thereby pressing an article of said fruit deposited between said hemispheres, said means for forcing comprising, a driven rod connected to a base member on which said first concave hemisphere is mounted; said first concave hemisphere having a central pin and said second concave hemisphere a perforating tube for the extraction of juice from said article of fruit, whereby the solid residue is deposited in a receptacle and the liquid is passed through a filter and then falls into a reservoir which has outlet ports therein.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said driven base member slidably moves said first concave hemisphere against and away from said second concave hemisphere.
 5. A fruit juice extraction apparatus comprising:a tubular chassis having mounted thereon juice extraction means; said juice extraction means having a container for storing said fruit, said container having an aperture therein and means for releasing an article of said fruit for allowing said article of said fruit to be deposited between two concave hemispheres; a motor for actuating means for forcing the first of said concave hemispheres against the second of said concave hemispheres, thereby pressing an article of said fruit deposited between said hemispheres, said means for forcing comprising, a driven rod connected to a base member on which said first concave hemisphere is mounted; said first concave hemisphere having a central pin and said second concave hemisphere a perforating tube for the extraction of juice from said article of fruit, whereby the solid residue is deposited in a receptacle and the liquid is passed through a filter and then falls into a reservoir which has outlet ports therein.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said driven base member slidably moves said first concave hemisphere against and away from said second concave hemisphere. 